Add a natural sunkissed glow to your complexion with this clear facial self tanner. Formulated with 100% natural tanning active, hyaluronic acid and non-pore blocking skincare ingredients. Simply spritz and glow.

This St Tropez formula is one of the speediest around, developing a light glow in an hour (and you can shower after that). It also doesn’t have that telltale DHA smell.

How to apply

The face is a tricky area for applying self-tan, but fortunately St Tropez make it super easy with their range of face tanning mists. Our favourite is the Purity Face Tan Mist, which comes in a clear formulation that is easy to apply with a dual-sided velvet mitt. It has a tint to guide application and all of our testers found it super easy to use.

The lightweight formula also combines natural hyaluronic acid and non-pore blocking skincare ingredients, leaving your skin looking plump and radiant. It’s also suitable for all skin tones and is free from parabens, talc, mineral oil, alcohol and perfume.

The st tropez tan face itself is derived from sugar cane and is dubbed dihydroxyacetone (DHA). It reacts with oxygen and a protein in the top layer of your skin to give you that lovely, sun-kissed glow, says Sophie Evans, a St. Tropez ambassador and tanning expert. The brand’s classic and express self tanners both work in 1 hour for a light glow, or up to 3 hours for a deep bronze.

Preparation

The best St Tropez fake tan products are easy to apply and have an uncanny ability to match your skin tone. But before you start, it’s important to properly prep your skin. Exfoliate and moisturize all over to avoid any patchy areas or flakiness.

While many self-tanners require up to 12 hours to fully develop, this St Tropez formula works faster. In fact, it gave all of my testers a darker color in just an hour—or even less time, depending on your skin.

The key ingredient is DHA, which is extracted from sugar cane and combines with oxygen and a protein in the top layer of your skin to give you a golden glow. St Tropez heats the DHA slower than other brands, which helps to eliminate that telltale orange tinge. Plus, it’s infused with plant-based melanin and natural green vegetable dye to help even out the color on all skin tones. Plus, it has a light, non-sticky gel formula that’s super lightweight.

Application

If you’re looking to apply a self tan that offers a natural-looking glow that lasts for days, look no further than our St Tropez Body & Face Self Tan Purity Water Serum. This formula is a lightweight moisturizer that dries quickly for an easy wash-off application. The formula is suitable for all skin types, but we recommend exfoliating before use to prevent dry spots or patches. Moisturized skin also helps extend the life of your beautiful bronze!

To use, dispense a small amount of product onto your hand or tanning mitt (a little goes a long way). Smooth over your entire body with smoothing strokes. Be sure to pay special attention to areas that are prone to dryness, such as knees and elbows.

Wait 4-6 hours for your gorgeous sun-kissed glow to develop fully. We recommend not showering or getting wet during this time to avoid smudging your new, golden glow. Then rinse off and enjoy!

Aftercare

Achieve the most natural-looking, long-lasting tan with St Tropez Self Tan Purity Face and Body Mini 3 Piece Kit. Using their best-selling formulas, this easy to use kit helps you achieve your desired tan in the comfort of your own home.

The Express Bronzing Mousse comes highly recommended in our best self tanners round up and is the fastest formula around, leaving you ready to shower in just 1 hour for a light sun kissed glow; 2 hours for a classic medium bronze and 3 hours for a deep dark bronze. It’s ideal for beginners and tanning pros alike.

Be aware the tan contains a guide colour and this can stain light hair, man made fibres and wool so please take care not to get it on these areas of your clothing or bed linen. Also, avoid getting it in your eyes or on lips – wash hands after application as it may stain. Patch test 24 hours prior to use, avoid contact with broken skin and stop if irritation occurs.